Everything about Tea - Реферат

In the Heian period (794-1185) tea was brought back from China by priests like Saicho and Kukai and was enjoyed by the nobles around Emperor Saga who was the first patron of tea. At this time, tea was called dancha, a brick-like ball of fermented tea leaves. Since this type of tea did not taste good, people gradually lost interest. Also the kentoshi, system of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, was abolished in 894. Further contributing to the decline of interest. Eisai Eisai (ll41-1215), who studied in China and founded the Zen sect in Japan, brought back tea seeds and the Chinese etiquette of tea presentation. Tea was integrated as part of the formalized, daily routine of this religious training. The ancient rituals of Yotsugashira at Kennin-ji temple is important because it preserves this historic form of tea. Eison who founded Saidai-ji temple in Nara, always served tea to the public when he gave his sermons. Thus the diffusion of tea-drinking accompanied the propagation of Buddhism, especially by the priests of the Zen sect. Tocha Tocha was a betting game consisting of drinking many varieties of tea and guessing which one was from Togano-o. The participants received prizes according to the number of correct guesses. Tocha was also called Juppuku-cha (ten cups of tea) or Gojuppuku-cha (fifty cups of tea), because each person took many sips. At the conclusion, the guests express their appreciation for the tea and admiration for the art of the host. They leave as the host watches from the door of the teahouse. Russian Tea Ceremonies In some areas they use three teapots that sit on top of each other to keep the tea warm. Often they are decorated with pictures from Russian folk stories and sometimes, they are made in the shape of something so that when they fit together they look like a person or an animal. Three teapots are used when you want to make two different kinds of tea at the same time. The middle pot usually holds strong black tea, the smallest pot on the top holds herbal or mint tea, and the large pot on the bottom holds hot water. The teas can be mixed with each other and diluted with hot water as you pour out each cup. Everyone can mix the type of tea they like. Tea is drunk from cups but more often Russians use a podstakanniki - a special glass in a silver holder. Tea is probably the favourite drink in Russia. It is made and served in teapots or samovars - a Russian tea kettle. In Russia, tea is usually drunk after meals rather than with a meal but when tea is made using a samovar it is ready to be used all day long. A samovar is shaped like an urn and there is a special place for a small teapot to sit on the top. Water is heated in the samovar and a strong dark tea is made using lots of tea leaves in the teapot on top. The strong tea is called zavarka. The tea is so strong that it has to be diluted with water from the samovar before you can drink it. You mix a drop of tea with hot water taken from the tap or spout on the front of the samovar. As the water is used you need to refill the samovar and every few hours you have to make a fresh pot of black tea. Some samovars are small and only hold about three litres of water but some can hold up to 30 litres. Samovars are usually made from metal. You can see them in homes, in offices and in restaurants. Kinds of tea China, the Homeland of Tea China is the homeland of tea. Of the three major beverages of the world-- tea, coffee and cocoa-- tea is consumed by the largest number of people in the world. China has tea-shrubs as early as five to six thousand years ago, and human cultivation of tea plants dates back two thousand years. Tea from China, along with her silk and porcelain, began to be known the world over more than a thousand years ago and has since always been an important Chinese export. At present more than forty countries in the world grow tea with Asian countries producing 90% of the worlds total output. All tea trees in other countries have their origin directly or indirectly in China. The word for tea leaves or tea as a drink in many countries are derivatives from the Chinese character cha. The Russians call it chai, which sounds like chaye (tea leaves) as it is pronounced in northern China, and the English word tea sounds similar to the pronunciation of its counterpart in Xiamen (Amoy). The Japanese character for tea is written exactly the same as it is in Chinese, though pronounced with a slight difference. The habit of tea drinking spread to Japan in the 6th century, but it was not introduced to Europe and America till the 17th and 18th centuries. Now the number of tea drinkers in the world is legion and is still on the increase. agony of the leaves: expression describing the unfurling of rolled or twisted leaves during steeping anhui: one of the major black tea producing regions in China aroma: fragran flavor of brewed leaf, consisting of the essential oils of tea assam: Tea grown in the state of Assam, in India. These